experiment met alcohol

Follow these steps to make rain clouds in a bottle!

Done right, this experiment has the most rewarding whoosh. It's from the Nat Geo Kids book Try This!  

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

You’re mimicking the part of Earth’s water cycle in which evaporated water (water vapor) cools and condenses, forming clouds as they connect with dust. In this experiment, the alcohol acts like the dust, providing something cool for water droplets to attach to.

When you pressurize the soda bottle by pumping air in, the air molecules collide with each other and warm the bottle. Releasing the pressure causes the water vapor to condense quickly, forming a cloud.

Fit your cork to your bottle. You may need to shave the sides off the cork to get a tight fit. Your aim here is the tightest possible seal. Then trim the cork to the length of the bike pump needle. You want the needle to be able to pass through the cork into the bottle, maintaining a tight seal.

Make a path for the cork, using your skewer, drill bit, or needle. Be sure the object you use to pierce the cork is narrower than the bike pump needle, or you won’t have a tight seal. When the cork is ready, take it out of the bottle.

Pour one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol into the bottle and screw the cap back on.

With the cap on, turn the bottle horizontal and roll it so that the alcohol sloshes around and coats the inside of the bottle thoroughly and evenly.

Insert the cork.

Insert the bike pump needle in the cork, then pump the bike pump four or five times. Sometimes when you do this the cork will blow and you’ll have your reaction. Other times you’ll have to pump a few times more, then stop and pull the needle out.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Once the pressure is released—either because the cork blows or the needle is removed—a cloud should form quickly and dramatically in the bottle. Note: Aim the bottle away from you and anyone else.

No cloud? Your seal isn’t tight enough. Try a different cork, or use duct tape to tighten the seal.

BONUS: REVERSE THE EXPERIMENT!

Before the cloud disappears, put the needle back in and pump a couple more times. The cloud should disappear as quickly as it came. Release the pressure, and the cloud will form again.

Science Lab

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Effect of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) on the self efficacy of Individuals of Alcohol dependence

Kumar, Saurav 1, ; Srivastava, Mona 1 ; Srivastava, Manushi 2 ; Yadav, Jai S. 1 ; Prakash, Shiv 1

1 Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

2 Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Address for correspondence: Mr. Saurav Kumar, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail: [email protected]

Received August 03, 2020

Received in revised form September 29, 2020

Accepted October 30, 2020

Introduction: 

Motivational enhancement therapy is characterized as a directive, client-centered intervention which helps in modification of behavior by helping subjects in identifying and resolving the ambivalence toward a change in self. In order to free one from the vicious cycle of the alcohol trap one needs self-efficacy, which serves a protective role to prevent from relapses. The study aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of MET on the self-efficacy of individuals pre and posttest with control design were applied.

Methods: 

A total of 40 subjects, alcohol-dependent persons fulfilling International classification of Diseases-10 criteria were selected through purposive sampling method from Outdoor and Indoor Service of Psychiatry Department IMS BHU, Varanasi, were randomly divided into two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy session for 10 sessions along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU), whereas 2 nd group control group were given treatment as usual (TAU) at the end of intervention post level of self-efficacy were measured through self-efficacy scale. Modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, Alcohol use disorder identification test, Self-Efficacy Scale as tools were used.

Result: 

The result shows that the mean value of self-efficacy in (MET + TAU) group before intervention was 56.30 ± 2.99 and mean value of self-efficacy in (MET + TAU) after intervention was 60.75 ± 2.65 which shows significant difference is found in self-efficacy after intervention.

Conclusion: 

Motivational enhancement therapy tries to decrease ambivalence so as to enhance the change in the subject's self-efficacy which assists the individuals in abstinence from alcohol.

Introduction

Alcohol abuse is defined as the disorder of alcohol use characterized by persistent drinking despite knowing its negative effect and the inability to do their responsibility in a good manner. Alcohol dependence is featured by a strong urge for alcohol, physical dependence on alcohol, inability to hold drinking, and expansion intolerance to alcohol's effects.[ 1 ]

Alcohol harmful use shows a negative effect on the health conditions of peoples. Research asserts that even modest alcohol use contributes to over 60 acute and chronic health conditions.[ 2 ]

In alcohol dependence treatment is the major obstacle in the persistence of abstinence behavior in alcohol-dependent patients for long period is due to their low self-efficacy and unawareness about coping methods in order to deal with high-risk problems and situations, which results in relapse every time. Self-efficacy is a form of belief on own ability to change or confidence to change and abstain from drug use in situations of high risk.[ 3 ] Coping self-efficacy acts as a shield to protect against relapse in adolescents suffering with a dual diagnosis of substance use and other psychiatric disorders. Self-efficacy is considered to be the patients' confidence in their capacity to lessen and discontinue alcohol, counter craving and temptation, and helps in maintaining changed behavior for long.[ 4 ]

There is a range of approaches available for substance use disorders treatment. The management approaches which have proven efficacy include the skill based relapse prevention strategies, 12 step contingency management programs, and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) therapies.[ 5 6 7 8 ] Some treatment methods use the confrontational styles or make use of methods to directly and actively move the subject toward the change in behavior; however, some researchers are of the opinion that such treatment options might be counterproductive if these methods are used before the subject has had a resolution of ambivalence about the desire to change.[ 9 ] The major obstacle in treating alcohol and substance dependents persons is the dearth of motivation to change among them. Interventions that target motivational factors have received significant attention in the area of addiction treatment.[ 10 11 ] One of those that have a significant empirical basis is motivational interviewing (MI).

MI is defined as “a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.“[ 11 ]

To assess and compare the effectiveness of MET on self-efficacy in person with alcohol dependence before and after intervention.

Research design

Pre and posttest with control design.

Study design

A total of 40 subjects, alcohol-dependent persons fulfilling ICD-10 criteria were selected through purposive sampling method from Outdoor and Indoor Service of Psychiatry Department IMS BHU, Varanasi, were subsequently divided into two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU) for 10 sessions, and 2 nd group 20 subjects, i.e., control group were given only treatment as usual (TAU) and put on waiting list. At the end of intervention post level of self-efficacy were measured through self-efficacy scale (SES). Pre and post-test with control design were used .Study period between April 2018 and April 2019. The institute ethics committee gave consent for the study.

Inclusion criteria for patients

• All subjects coming to outpatient department and inpatient department in psychiatry department of IMS BHU for treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome and desirable for abstinence diagnosed fulfilling ICD-10.
• Age range of patients between 21 and 60 years.
• Subjects having received education up to primary level or above.
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria for patients

• Patients with any co-morbid psychiatric, neurological disorder, and physical problem.
• Patients using multiple substances.

Inclusion criteria for wife

• Married for at least 1 year.
• Primary education and above with ability to read and write.
• Having no physical and psychiatric illness.
• Given written consent.
• 18 years and above.
• Sociodemographic datasheet- A semistructured and pre-tested performa has been used. It contains information about sociodemographic variables like age, sex, religion, education, marital status, domicile, and occupation.
• Modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale-Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale is one of the useful tools in community and hospital research in India. It suited equally for both urban and rural populations. It was proposed in 1976. Scale considers income, occupation, education.[ 12 ]
• Alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) – This is a screening instrument developed to detect early harmful or hazardous consumption of alcohol. It consists of 10-item focuses mainly on three areas (1) Quantity and frequency of alcohol use indicative of hazardous alcohol use (items 1-3); (2) Indicators of dependence (items 4-6); and (3) adverse consequences suggesting harmful use (items 7-10). The items are scored 0 (never) to 4 (Daily or almost daily). It takes about 2–3 min to apply and score it. AUDIT shows high internal consistency as the value of Cronbach alpha = 0.80 and reliability ranges from 0.64 to 0.92.[ 13 ]
• Self-Efficacy Scale - Present scale has 19 items and is translated into Hindi from 23 item SES of Sherer et al . (1982) having two factor representing general and social self-efficacy factors of SES .The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients are 0.74 and 0.99 for the two factors and 1 for whole scale. The test–retest reliability values, 0.91 and 0.94 for the two factors and 0.93 for the whole scale.[ 14 ]

Participants fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled for study, after taking a written informed consent. Sociodemographic datasheet, Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale, AUDIT scale, SES were used. AUDIT scale was used for screening harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption. Total 40 subjects alcohol-dependent persons recruited through purposive sampling method were divided equally in two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU) respectively for total 10 sessions consisting of lifestyle, decisional balance pros, and cons of alcohol use, exploring values, supporting self-efficacy, i.e., success stories, looking forward, information related to raising awareness the good and bad thing of taking alcohol, craving management and coping skills, i.e., distraction techniques[ 15 ] and 2 nd group 20 subjects consisting Control group was provided treatment as usual (TAU) and put on waiting list.

Ethical clearance

The present study has been ethically approved (on 20 February 2018) by the Ethical Committee of IMS BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Statistical analysis

For the tabulation and analysis of the data, Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS IBM trial version 20.0 programs were used. Pre and post status of self-efficacy were compared with the application of independent sample t test.

Table 1 shows sociodemographic details in age group, majority of respondent about 35% were in 31–35 years age range in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 50% in 31–35 years age range in control (TAU) group respectively. Regarding education high number of respondents about 35% belongs to graduation standard in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 35% belongs to control (TAU) group from high school. In occupation, majorly respondents were engaged in job category which was about 60% in experiment (MET + TAU), whereas majority of respondents about 65% belongs to job category in control (TAU) group, respectively. Majority of respondents about 65% belongs to urban area in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 55% belongs to same in control (TAU) group. A vast number of respondents about 70% come from nuclear family in experiments (MET + TAU) group, whereas 60% belongs to nuclear family in control (TAU) group, respectively. Majority of respondents about 50% belongs to lower middle class in (MET + TAU) group, whereas 45% belongs to lower middle in control (TAU), respectively.

Table 2 depicts that mean value of self-efficacy before intervention in (MET + TAU) group is 56.30 ± 2.99 and in control (TAU) group is 56.25 ± 4.58 which indicates there is no significant difference ( p > 0.05).

Table 3 Shows the mean value of self-efficacy after intervention in (MET + TAU) group is 60.75 ± 2.65 and in control (TAU) group is 57.30 ± 4.63 which indicates there is significant difference ( p < 0.05).

While comparing the meant of self efficacy score before and after interventions in the experiment (MET+TAU) group the mean self efficacy score in experiment group was found 56.30 ± 2.99 where after the intervention the mean self efficacy score was increased 60.75 ± 2.65 [ Figure 1 ].

There was a small amount of change was observed in the mean of self efficacy score in the control (TAU) group after the intervention. The mean self efficacy score in control group before the intervention was found 56.25 ± 4.58 and after the intervention it was found 57.30 ± 4.63, respectively [ Figure 2 ].

Present study was carried out to assess and compare the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy on self-efficacy before and after intervention in person with alcohol dependence.

The finding of our result depicts that the mean value of self-efficacy in experiment (MET + TAU) group before motivational enhancement therapy intervention was 56.30 ± 2.99 and mean value of self-efficacy in experiment (MET + TAU) group after motivation enhancement therapy intervention was 60.75 ± 2.65. Whereas mean value of self-efficacy in control (TAU) before intervention was 56.25 ± 4.58 and mean value of control (TAU) group after intervention was 57.30 ± 4.63. On comparison it was found that after motivation enhancement therapy there was significant difference ( p value = 0.006), in mean than self-efficacy values with group where only treatment as usual was given.

As we can conclude from our result that after (MET + TAU) motivational enhancement therapy intervention score of self-efficacy enhances which is consistent with the other study of who conducted a study in Stockholm hospital de-addiction unit on 35 patients who were given one session of MET were compared with 52 subjects who received treatment as usual at before intervention and after 3 months. The group who gets MI sessions recorded with increased self-efficacy for abstention followed with participant's transition toward preparation/action stages of change.[ 16 ] A study explored that clients receiving integrated MI and CBT sessions in an outpatient setting shows increased self-efficacy after the MI session.[ 17 ]

A study conducted to see the status of self-efficacy and perceived social support of 101 alcohol-dependent subjects in Kansas county center for addictive disorders after treating them through Minnesota 12-step program concluded that the overall self-efficacy, drinking refusal self-efficacy and social support of alcohol-dependent women and men at the end of treatment was higher than at the beginning of treatment which supports our finding.[ 18 ] A study conducted to examine the impact of MI on self-efficacy, motivation, and outcome expectancies in adolescents. The finding depicts that the intervention assisted in the behavior change in the positive way indicates an enhancement in motivation and abstinence from the use of substance, also an increase in the self-efficacy to be able to ignore the addictive agent.[ 19 ] A study was organized to see the impact of web-based intervention to assist young people to quit and lessen their cannabis use and found that after the intervention program self-efficacy enhanced remarkably.[ 20 ]

A total of 107 subjects having alcohol dependence were examined by random allocation in a controlled trial looking at the self-efficacy and persistence of abstinence, the study concluded that brief motivational improvement had no effect on the abstinence behavior, at the same time correlation was seen between high self-efficacy and abstinence for long period.[ 21 ]

One of the contradictory studies to our finding conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy employed on a group setting in a substance abuse treatment community agency and concluded that participants showed no statistically significant change in the value of readiness to change and in their self-efficacy value.[ 22 ] In a recent presentation in Paris an Indian study from Muzzafarpur was presented, the authors looked at self-efficacy in alcohol dependence subjects using a randomized control trial, the findings were similar to our findings in terms of the effectiveness of self-efficacy in alcohol dependence subjects.[ 23 ]

As the sample size is small and it is a hospital based study, result cannot be generalized on every field. Purposive sample is utilized for recruitment of subjects which indicates researcher convenience.

Recommendation

More clear and vivid result comes out if more study on larger sample will be conducted. There should be some more studies be conducted to assess the effect of motivational enhancement therapy in other substance use disorder (cannabis, opioids, etc.)

Alcohol is one of the largest risk factors for genesis of disease. Every year vast share of the budget of different countries goes into tackling health-related problems associated with alcohol abuse. The high relapse rate in the case of substance dependence again adds a burden on the health system. Relapse occurs most of the time due to low self-efficacy and weak coping skill of substance-dependent peoples to the high-risk situation in such conditions along with medicinal treatment, psychosocial intervention like motivational enhancement therapy shows an effective role and can be helpful in enhancing self-efficacy of alcohol dependents.

Summary point

• A simple and cost-effective method of self-efficacy training can help in decreasing the public health problem of alcohol dependence
• The self-efficacy treatment can be imparted in a group setting
• The primary level clinician can be effectively trained in this method of management at community level.

Financial support and sponsorship

University Grant commission (UGC) New Delhi.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

• A psychotherapeutic intervention like motivational enhancement therapy (MET) along with medicinal treatment gives positive outcomes in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
• Self-efficacy enhances with motivational enhancement therapy intervention which assists individuals in coming out of trap of alcohol dependence.
• In India, there is a resource crunch in which short interventions which have better management potential are the need of the day. Training the primary level practitioners in MET and self-efficacy can prove to be a smart and cost-effective primary level management strategy, wherein the patients can be targeted and managed at the primary and community level in groups.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank all persons who participated in the present study and their spouse.

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Alcohol dependence; motivational interviewing; self-efficacy

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The science of alcohol

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

In this free course, The science of alcohol , you will learn about the processes involved in the creation of alcoholic drinks – how they are produced, how the wide range of flavours are generated and how scientists ensure the safety of what we drink. You will also explore the effects of alcohol on our bodies in both the short and long term.

Alcohol production is an excellent example of how modern-day science and engineering has met twenty-first-century commerce. This course investigates the basics of the chemistry and biology behind alcohol production. You will be introduced to the fermentation process, how the ingredients used lead to different flavours, and what chemicals cause these differences. By understanding the processes used in preparation you will explore the different types of beer. A practical 'experiment' of a homebrew will run alongside this course. If you wish you can try your hand at brewing as you learn the science behind it all.

You will learn about the distilling process and how this occurs at a large scale. You will explore the natural botanicals that are used to infuse flavour into spirits and the chemicals within these.

The providence behind alcoholic drinks is incredibly important in terms of safety, but also from a commercial viewpoint. Therefore, you will study how this has developed over the years and explore the modern-day analytical instrumentation used to combat fraud and counterfeiting.

Alcohol is well known to affect the human body. You will learn about the reasons why we get drunk, and how the body processes alcohol, and the deleterious long term effects of excessive alcohol consumption. You will explore how taste and smell work and why this is important to our choice of drinks, and go in search of the best hangover cure.

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This course is accredited by the CPD Standards Office . It can be used to provide evidence of continuing professional development and on successful completion of the course you will be awarded 24 CPD points. Evidence of your CPD achievement is provided on the free Statement of Participation awarded on completion.

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Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course!  The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement.   The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• describe the process of fermentation and how it is used to create different varieties of alcoholic beverage
• compare brewing on the microscale and commercial scale, and describe how a spirit such as gin is produced on a large scale
• describe how alcohol affects the human body, both in terms of long and short term effects
• describe how chemicals within a drink give it its taste and aroma, and how the body recognises it
• discuss how modern-day scientists use cutting edge technology to protect against counterfeiting and contamination.

First Published: 21/08/2018

Updated: 20/01/2020

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Shop Experiment Evaporation of Alcohols Experiments​

Evaporation of alcohols.

Experiment #4 from Physical Science with Vernier

Introduction

The evaporation of a liquid absorbs energy and cools its surroundings. Such a process is said to be endothermic . You have probably experienced this phenomenon as you stepped from a swimming pool on a windy day. A major factor in determining the rate of evaporation and the resulting cooling is the strength of attraction between the molecules of a liquid. Substances with strong attractions between molecules evaporate slowly and cool slightly during evaporation. In this experiment, you will study temperature changes caused by the evaporation of different alcohols.

• Draw structural formulas for alcohols.
• Measure temperatures as three alcohols evaporate.
• Determine the change in temperature, Δ t , for each of three alcohols.
• Predict the change in temperature, Δ t , for a fourth alcohol.
• Determine the change in temperature, Δ t , for the fourth alcohol.
• Graph the results.
• Use the results to make conclusions about intermolecular attractions.

Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.

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This experiment is #4 of Physical Science with Vernier . The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.

Science Fun

Cloud In A Bottle

Learn how to make a cloud in a bottle with this super simple and really cool weather science experiment.

• Empty plastic water bottle with cap
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• Safety goggles

Instructions:

• Use the scissors to carefully remove the label from the plastic water bottle.
• Put on your safety goggles.
• Pour a small amount of alcohol into the bottle.
• Put the cap on the bottle. 
• Slowly rotate the bottle so the alcohol coats the inside of the bottle.
• Grab the bottom one third of the bottle and twist. This will create pressure in the bottle.
• Release and watch your Cloud In A Bottle form right before your eyes.

WATCH THE QUICK VIDEO TUTORIAL

How it Works:

The pressure you created inside the bottle forced the water vapor to compress together, heat up, and evaporate into gas. When you released the pressure, the water vapor molecules cooled quickly and condensed to form a visible Cloud In A Bottle. 

Make This A Science Project:

Try the Cloud In A Bottle demonstration is areas that are significantly colder or hotter and record any noticeable differences. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Comparing heat energy from burning alcohols

In association with Nuffield Foundation

• Four out of five

In this investigation, students use a spirit burner to burn various alcohols while measuring and comparing the amount of heat energy produced

This experiment is suitable for pre-16 students, possibly as an introduction to a topic on fuels. It can be taken further if used with post-16 students who can calculate values for enthalpy changes of combustion, with subsequent discussion about heat losses and incomplete combustion.

The alcohols should be provided in labelled spirit burners ready to use. If each group investigates one alcohol, the experiment can be done in around 20 minutes. It is better if each spirit burner is used by more than one group of students. Variation of results will add substance to a discussion about errors.

• Eye protection
• Retort stand and clamp
• Conical flask, 150 cm 3 or larger
• Measuring cylinder, 100 cm 3
• Thermometer (–10 °C to +110 °C)
• Access to balances, preferably several, to avoid queuing
• Access to spirit burners with wicks and caps, containing the alcohols listed (note 1)

Apparatus notes

• Suitable spirit burners are hard to come by. Ideally they should be small, with a capacity of 50 cm 3 or less. Pictures and information in suppliers’ catalogues can be misleading. It is important that the wick fits tightly in the wick holder and that the wick holder fits tightly in the burner. If capacity is more than 50 cm 3 , reduce it, for instance by packing with mineral wool, or partially filling with epoxy. Refer to CLEAPSS L195 ’Safer chemicals, safer reactions’. One possible source is: A.J.Cope & Son Ltd , Unit 10, Cliffside Trade Park, Motherwell Way, Grays, Essex, RM20 3XD.
• Methanol 
• Ethanol 
• Propan-1-ol 
• Propan-2-ol 
• Butan-1-ol 

Health, safety and technical notes

• Read our standard health and safety guidance .
• Wear eye protection throughout.
• Methanol, CH 3 OH(l), (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, TOXIC) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC040b . Methanol is volatile and has a low flash point.
• Ethanol, CH 3 CH 2 OH(l), (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC040A . Ethanol is volatile and has a low flash point.
• Propan-1-ol, CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 OH(l), (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, IRRITANT, HARMFUL) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC084A . Propan-1-ol is volatile and has a low flash point.
• Propan-2-ol, CH 3 CHOHCH 3 (l), (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, IRRITANT, HARMFUL) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC084A. Propan-2-ol is volatile and has a low flash point.
• Butan-1-ol, CH3CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH(l), (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, IRRITANT, HARMFUL) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC084B . Butan-1-ol is volatile and has a low flash point.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

Equipment required for measuring heat energy from burning alcohol.

• Measure 100 cm 3  of cold tap water into a conical flask.
• Clamp the flask at a suitable height so that a spirit burner can easily be placed below.
• Weigh the spirit burner (and cap) containing the alcohol and record this mass and the name of the alcohol.
• Record the initial temperature of the water in the flask.
• Place the spirit burner under the flask and light the wick.
• Allow the alcohol to heat the water so the temperature rises by about 40 °C.
• Replace the cap to extinguish the flame.
• Reweigh the spirit burner and cap, and record this mass.
• Work out the mass of alcohol used.
• Using a fresh 100 cm 3  of cold tap water, repeat the experiment with another alcohol.

Teaching notes

Get the class to record and share the results. Do not be surprised if groups get different answers for a given alcohol. Heat losses will almost certainly vary considerably.

Subsequent discussion depends on the level of the students’ experience.

Student questions

Here are some possible questions to ask students:

• Which alcohol produces the most energy per gram?
• Which alcohol produces the most energy per mole?
• Write equations for the complete combustion of each alcohol.
• Propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol are isomers (same molecular formula, different structures). Do they produce the same amount of heat on combustion?
• Does all the heat produced by combustion go into raising the temperature of the water?
• Is it possible that combustion may be incomplete, giving carbon monoxide among the products?
• Alcohols can be used as a substitute for hydrocarbon fuels, and so methods of producing alcohols are very important. What process converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide?

Notes on questions

• On question 6, stress the dangers accompanying the production of carbon monoxide.

More resources

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Additional information

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• 14-16 years
• 16-18 years
• Practical experiments
• Thermodynamics
• Quantitative chemistry and stoichiometry

Specification

• 9.28C Investigate the temperature rise produced in a known mass of water by the combustion of the alcohols ethanol, propanol, butanol and pentanol
• The heat change, q, in a reaction is given by the equation q = mcΔT; where m is the mass of the substance that has a temperature change ΔT and a specific heat capacity c.
• Students should be able to: use this equation to calculate the molar enthalpy change for a reaction.
• e) determination of enthalpy changes directly from appropriate experimental results, including use of the relationship: q = mcΔT
• 5 i. understand experiments to measure enthalpy changes in terms of: processing results using the expression: energy transferred = mass x specific heat capacity × temperature change (Q=mcΔT)
• In combustion, a substance reacts with oxygen releasing energy.
• Fuels burn releasing different quantities of energy.
• The quantity of heat energy released can be determined experimentally and calculated using, Eₕ = cmΔT.
• PRACTICAL: Determination of an enthalpy change of combustion
• (f) the combustion reactions of hydrocarbons and other fuels
• (g) how to determine experimentally the energy per gram released by a burning fuel
• (v) the uses of ethanol as a solvent and as a fuel and the social, economic and environmental factors that affect the development of bioethanol fuel
• determine the enthalpy changes for combustion and neutralisation using simple apparatus; and
• 2.8.6 recall experimental methods to determine enthalpy changes;
• 2.8.7 calculate enthalpy changes from experimental data using the equation q = mcΔT;

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What Happens to Your Brain When You Drink with Friends?

Using fruit flies, utep study shows how social drinking boosts euphoria.

EL PASO, Texas (Aug. 6, 2024) – Grab a drink with friends at happy hour and you’re likely to feel chatty, friendly and upbeat. But grab a drink alone and you may experience feelings of depression. Researchers think they now know why this happens.

On the left, a single intoxicated fruit fly displays a bit of hyperactivity. On the right, intoxicated fruit flies in a social setting display markedly augmented hyperactivity. The experiment was created to replicate humans drinking in solitary versus group settings. Credit: Paul Sabandal/UTEP

“Social settings influence how individuals react to alcohol, yet there is no mechanistic study on how and why this occurs,” said Kyung-An Han, Ph.D., a biologist at The University of Texas at El Paso who uses fruit flies to study alcoholism. 

Now, Han and a team of UTEP faculty and students have taken a key step in understanding the neurobiological process behind social drinking and how it boosts feelings of euphoria. Their new study , published in a recent issue of the journal Addiction Biology, pinpoints the region of the brain that is stimulated by social drinking and may lead to a better understanding of how humans become vulnerable to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a disease that affected nearly 29.5 million people just this past year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Turns out that tipsy fruit flies aren’t that different from intoxicated humans. Although they might seem like an unconventional choice from which to derive knowledge about human behavior, these insects share about 75% of the same genes that cause human diseases, Han explained.

Using fruit flies, Han and her team sought to demonstrate that ethanol, the alcohol in drinks, causes different reactions in solitary versus group settings and that dopamine, the brain molecule that plays a role in pleasure, motivation and learning, is a key player for this phenomenon.

The team’s experiments consisted of exposing fruit flies, either alone or in a group setting, to ethanol vapor and measuring their average speed to determine the degree of ethanol-induced response. While flies who “drank alone” displayed a slight increase in movement, flies exposed to ethanol in a group setting displayed significantly increased speed and movement. 

The team then proceeded to test whether dopamine plays a role in the flies’ response to ethanol, comparing a control group whose dopamine was naturally regulated by the brain with an experimental group that had increased levels of dopamine.

The team found that the flies, regardless of whether they had normal or increased levels of dopamine, had a similar reaction to ethanol in a solitary setting — a tiny increase in activity. But in social settings, the flies with increased dopamine showed even more heightened hyperactivity than usual.  

“We demonstrated that both social settings and dopamine act together for the flies’ heightened response to ethanol,” said Han who currently serves as associate dean in the College of Science.

The team’s final task was to identify which of the five dopamine receptors in the brain is the largest contributor in this process and found that the D1 dopamine receptor was most important to flies’ reaction to ethanol in a social setting.

“The human D1 receptor gene is linked to Alcohol Use Disorder and this study provides experimental validation for it. For the team, the identification of the D1 receptor is crucial as it gives researchers at UTEP and beyond a blueprint for follow up studies,” Han explained. 

“Our work is providing scientific knowledge to support the idea that the brain interprets and processes a person’s social surrounding and has that signal converge into the dopamine system that is also activated by alcohol consumption,” said Paul Rafael Sabandal, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in biological sciences and one of the study’s corresponding authors. “It gives us as researchers an idea of which brain area and components may serve as the meeting point for all the signals that contribute to AUD.”

The team’s next step is to explore the intricacies by which the D1 dopamine receptor serves as the nexus point for the signals that contribute to the ethanol, social interaction and AUD. 

Han said, “The opportunity to work on projects whose positive impact can be applied at scale is one of the reasons I became a scientist. It’s humbling to know that our work has the potential to help people live better lives and our team is going to continue striving toward achieving that goal.”

Additional study authors are former UTEP undergraduates Dilean Murillo Gonzalez and Bryan Hernandez Granados, who are now at the Baylor College of Medicine Neuroscience Graduate Program and the Vanderbilt University Postbaccalaureate Program, respectively.

The research was funded by UTEP’s   Orville Edward Egbert, M.D.   Endowment fund.

Last Updated on August 06, 2024 at 12:00 AM | Originally published August 06, 2024

By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications

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What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health

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In this episode, I discuss the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time. I also describe genetic differences that predispose certain individuals to alcoholism, binge and habit-drinking. I explain alcohol metabolism in simple terms and how it effectively acts as a poison, leading to cellular stress and damage. I then explain that it impacts neuronal function and changes our thinking and behavior – hallmarks of inebriation. I also discuss how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone balance, mood and feelings of motivation. Additionally, I discuss the biology of hangovers and describe science-based strategies to mitigate the severity of a hangover. Since alcohol is one of the most widely consumed recreational substances, this episode ought to be of relevance to everyone.  Indeed, even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption negatively impacts the brain and body in direct ways. The goal of this episode is to help people make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption that are in keeping with their mental and physical health goals. 

• Associations between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank  ( Nature Communications )
• Gut Microbiota at the Intersection of Alcohol, Brain, and the Liver  ( Journal of Clinical Medicine )
• Tolerance to alcohol: A critical yet understudied factor in alcohol addiction  ( Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior )
• Associations Between Drinking and Cortical Thickness in Younger Adult Drinkers: Findings From the Human Connectome Project  ( Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research )
• Moderate Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Breast Cancer  ( The New England Journal of Medicine )
• Can alcohol promote aromatization of androgens to estrogens? A review  ( Alcohol )

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Effect of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) on the self efficacy of Individuals of Alcohol dependence

Saurav kumar.

1 Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Mona Srivastava

Manushi srivastava.

2 Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Jai S. Yadav

Shiv prakash, introduction:.

Motivational enhancement therapy is characterized as a directive, client-centered intervention which helps in modification of behavior by helping subjects in identifying and resolving the ambivalence toward a change in self. In order to free one from the vicious cycle of the alcohol trap one needs self-efficacy, which serves a protective role to prevent from relapses. The study aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of MET on the self-efficacy of individuals pre and posttest with control design were applied.

A total of 40 subjects, alcohol-dependent persons fulfilling International classification of Diseases-10 criteria were selected through purposive sampling method from Outdoor and Indoor Service of Psychiatry Department IMS BHU, Varanasi, were randomly divided into two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy session for 10 sessions along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU), whereas 2 nd group control group were given treatment as usual (TAU) at the end of intervention post level of self-efficacy were measured through self-efficacy scale. Modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, Alcohol use disorder identification test, Self-Efficacy Scale as tools were used.

The result shows that the mean value of self-efficacy in (MET + TAU) group before intervention was 56.30 ± 2.99 and mean value of self-efficacy in (MET + TAU) after intervention was 60.75 ± 2.65 which shows significant difference is found in self-efficacy after intervention.

Conclusion:

Motivational enhancement therapy tries to decrease ambivalence so as to enhance the change in the subject's self-efficacy which assists the individuals in abstinence from alcohol.

Introduction

Alcohol abuse is defined as the disorder of alcohol use characterized by persistent drinking despite knowing its negative effect and the inability to do their responsibility in a good manner. Alcohol dependence is featured by a strong urge for alcohol, physical dependence on alcohol, inability to hold drinking, and expansion intolerance to alcohol's effects.[ 1 ]

Alcohol harmful use shows a negative effect on the health conditions of peoples. Research asserts that even modest alcohol use contributes to over 60 acute and chronic health conditions.[ 2 ]

In alcohol dependence treatment is the major obstacle in the persistence of abstinence behavior in alcohol-dependent patients for long period is due to their low self-efficacy and unawareness about coping methods in order to deal with high-risk problems and situations, which results in relapse every time. Self-efficacy is a form of belief on own ability to change or confidence to change and abstain from drug use in situations of high risk.[ 3 ] Coping self-efficacy acts as a shield to protect against relapse in adolescents suffering with a dual diagnosis of substance use and other psychiatric disorders. Self-efficacy is considered to be the patients' confidence in their capacity to lessen and discontinue alcohol, counter craving and temptation, and helps in maintaining changed behavior for long.[ 4 ]

There is a range of approaches available for substance use disorders treatment. The management approaches which have proven efficacy include the skill based relapse prevention strategies, 12 step contingency management programs, and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) therapies.[ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] Some treatment methods use the confrontational styles or make use of methods to directly and actively move the subject toward the change in behavior; however, some researchers are of the opinion that such treatment options might be counterproductive if these methods are used before the subject has had a resolution of ambivalence about the desire to change.[ 9 ] The major obstacle in treating alcohol and substance dependents persons is the dearth of motivation to change among them. Interventions that target motivational factors have received significant attention in the area of addiction treatment.[ 10 , 11 ] One of those that have a significant empirical basis is motivational interviewing (MI).

MI is defined as “a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.“[ 11 ]

To assess and compare the effectiveness of MET on self-efficacy in person with alcohol dependence before and after intervention.

Research design

Pre and posttest with control design.

Study design

A total of 40 subjects, alcohol-dependent persons fulfilling ICD-10 criteria were selected through purposive sampling method from Outdoor and Indoor Service of Psychiatry Department IMS BHU, Varanasi, were subsequently divided into two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU) for 10 sessions, and 2 nd group 20 subjects, i.e., control group were given only treatment as usual (TAU) and put on waiting list. At the end of intervention post level of self-efficacy were measured through self-efficacy scale (SES). Pre and post-test with control design were used .Study period between April 2018 and April 2019. The institute ethics committee gave consent for the study.

Inclusion criteria for patients

• All subjects coming to outpatient department and inpatient department in psychiatry department of IMS BHU for treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome and desirable for abstinence diagnosed fulfilling ICD-10.
• Age range of patients between 21 and 60 years.
• Subjects having received education up to primary level or above.
• Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria for patients

• Patients with any co-morbid psychiatric, neurological disorder, and physical problem.
• Patients using multiple substances.

Inclusion criteria for wife

• Married for at least 1 year.
• Primary education and above with ability to read and write.
• Having no physical and psychiatric illness.
• Given written consent.
• 18 years and above.
• Sociodemographic datasheet- A semistructured and pre-tested performa has been used. It contains information about sociodemographic variables like age, sex, religion, education, marital status, domicile, and occupation.
• Modified Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale-Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale is one of the useful tools in community and hospital research in India. It suited equally for both urban and rural populations. It was proposed in 1976. Scale considers income, occupation, education.[ 12 ]
• Alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) – This is a screening instrument developed to detect early harmful or hazardous consumption of alcohol. It consists of 10-item focuses mainly on three areas (1) Quantity and frequency of alcohol use indicative of hazardous alcohol use (items 1-3); (2) Indicators of dependence (items 4-6); and (3) adverse consequences suggesting harmful use (items 7-10). The items are scored 0 (never) to 4 (Daily or almost daily). It takes about 2–3 min to apply and score it. AUDIT shows high internal consistency as the value of Cronbach alpha = 0.80 and reliability ranges from 0.64 to 0.92.[ 13 ]
• Self-Efficacy Scale - Present scale has 19 items and is translated into Hindi from 23 item SES of Sherer et al . (1982) having two factor representing general and social self-efficacy factors of SES .The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients are 0.74 and 0.99 for the two factors and 1 for whole scale. The test–retest reliability values, 0.91 and 0.94 for the two factors and 0.93 for the whole scale.[ 14 ]

Participants fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled for study, after taking a written informed consent. Sociodemographic datasheet, Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale, AUDIT scale, SES were used. AUDIT scale was used for screening harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption. Total 40 subjects alcohol-dependent persons recruited through purposive sampling method were divided equally in two groups. 1 st group 20 subjects were given motivational enhancement therapy along with treatment as usual (MET + TAU) respectively for total 10 sessions consisting of lifestyle, decisional balance pros, and cons of alcohol use, exploring values, supporting self-efficacy, i.e., success stories, looking forward, information related to raising awareness the good and bad thing of taking alcohol, craving management and coping skills, i.e., distraction techniques[ 15 ] and 2 nd group 20 subjects consisting Control group was provided treatment as usual (TAU) and put on waiting list.

Ethical clearance

The present study has been ethically approved (on 20 February 2018) by the Ethical Committee of IMS BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Statistical analysis

For the tabulation and analysis of the data, Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS IBM trial version 20.0 programs were used. Pre and post status of self-efficacy were compared with the application of independent sample t test.

Table 1 shows sociodemographic details in age group, majority of respondent about 35% were in 31–35 years age range in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 50% in 31–35 years age range in control (TAU) group respectively. Regarding education high number of respondents about 35% belongs to graduation standard in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 35% belongs to control (TAU) group from high school. In occupation, majorly respondents were engaged in job category which was about 60% in experiment (MET + TAU), whereas majority of respondents about 65% belongs to job category in control (TAU) group, respectively. Majority of respondents about 65% belongs to urban area in experiment (MET + TAU) group, whereas 55% belongs to same in control (TAU) group. A vast number of respondents about 70% come from nuclear family in experiments (MET + TAU) group, whereas 60% belongs to nuclear family in control (TAU) group, respectively. Majority of respondents about 50% belongs to lower middle class in (MET + TAU) group, whereas 45% belongs to lower middle in control (TAU), respectively.

Sociodemographic details of respondents

MET - Motivational enhancement therapy, TAU - Treatment as usual

Table 2 depicts that mean value of self-efficacy before intervention in (MET + TAU) group is 56.30 ± 2.99 and in control (TAU) group is 56.25 ± 4.58 which indicates there is no significant difference ( p > 0.05).

Comparison of mean value of self-efficacy between (MET+TAU) group and control (TAU) group at baseline (before intervention)

P >0.05 nonsignificant

Table 3 Shows the mean value of self-efficacy after intervention in (MET + TAU) group is 60.75 ± 2.65 and in control (TAU) group is 57.30 ± 4.63 which indicates there is significant difference ( p < 0.05).

Comparison of mean value of self-efficacy between (MET + TAU) group and control (TAU) group at end point (after intervention)

P <0.05 significant

While comparing the meant of self efficacy score before and after interventions in the experiment (MET+TAU) group the mean self efficacy score in experiment group was found 56.30 ± 2.99 where after the intervention the mean self efficacy score was increased 60.75 ± 2.65 [ Figure 1 ].

Comparison of mean self-efficacy score before and after intervention in experiment (MET + TAU) group.

There was a small amount of change was observed in the mean of self efficacy score in the control (TAU) group after the intervention. The mean self efficacy score in control group before the intervention was found 56.25 ± 4.58 and after the intervention it was found 57.30 ± 4.63, respectively [ Figure 2 ].

Comparison of mean self-efficacy score before and after intervention in control (TAU) group.

Present study was carried out to assess and compare the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy on self-efficacy before and after intervention in person with alcohol dependence.

The finding of our result depicts that the mean value of self-efficacy in experiment (MET + TAU) group before motivational enhancement therapy intervention was 56.30 ± 2.99 and mean value of self-efficacy in experiment (MET + TAU) group after motivation enhancement therapy intervention was 60.75 ± 2.65. Whereas mean value of self-efficacy in control (TAU) before intervention was 56.25 ± 4.58 and mean value of control (TAU) group after intervention was 57.30 ± 4.63. On comparison it was found that after motivation enhancement therapy there was significant difference ( p value = 0.006), in mean than self-efficacy values with group where only treatment as usual was given.

As we can conclude from our result that after (MET + TAU) motivational enhancement therapy intervention score of self-efficacy enhances which is consistent with the other study of who conducted a study in Stockholm hospital de-addiction unit on 35 patients who were given one session of MET were compared with 52 subjects who received treatment as usual at before intervention and after 3 months. The group who gets MI sessions recorded with increased self-efficacy for abstention followed with participant's transition toward preparation/action stages of change.[ 16 ] A study explored that clients receiving integrated MI and CBT sessions in an outpatient setting shows increased self-efficacy after the MI session.[ 17 ]

A study conducted to see the status of self-efficacy and perceived social support of 101 alcohol-dependent subjects in Kansas county center for addictive disorders after treating them through Minnesota 12-step program concluded that the overall self-efficacy, drinking refusal self-efficacy and social support of alcohol-dependent women and men at the end of treatment was higher than at the beginning of treatment which supports our finding.[ 18 ] A study conducted to examine the impact of MI on self-efficacy, motivation, and outcome expectancies in adolescents. The finding depicts that the intervention assisted in the behavior change in the positive way indicates an enhancement in motivation and abstinence from the use of substance, also an increase in the self-efficacy to be able to ignore the addictive agent.[ 19 ] A study was organized to see the impact of web-based intervention to assist young people to quit and lessen their cannabis use and found that after the intervention program self-efficacy enhanced remarkably.[ 20 ]

A total of 107 subjects having alcohol dependence were examined by random allocation in a controlled trial looking at the self-efficacy and persistence of abstinence, the study concluded that brief motivational improvement had no effect on the abstinence behavior, at the same time correlation was seen between high self-efficacy and abstinence for long period.[ 21 ]

One of the contradictory studies to our finding conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy employed on a group setting in a substance abuse treatment community agency and concluded that participants showed no statistically significant change in the value of readiness to change and in their self-efficacy value.[ 22 ] In a recent presentation in Paris an Indian study from Muzzafarpur was presented, the authors looked at self-efficacy in alcohol dependence subjects using a randomized control trial, the findings were similar to our findings in terms of the effectiveness of self-efficacy in alcohol dependence subjects.[ 23 ]

As the sample size is small and it is a hospital based study, result cannot be generalized on every field. Purposive sample is utilized for recruitment of subjects which indicates researcher convenience.

Recommendation

More clear and vivid result comes out if more study on larger sample will be conducted. There should be some more studies be conducted to assess the effect of motivational enhancement therapy in other substance use disorder (cannabis, opioids, etc.)

Alcohol is one of the largest risk factors for genesis of disease. Every year vast share of the budget of different countries goes into tackling health-related problems associated with alcohol abuse. The high relapse rate in the case of substance dependence again adds a burden on the health system. Relapse occurs most of the time due to low self-efficacy and weak coping skill of substance-dependent peoples to the high-risk situation in such conditions along with medicinal treatment, psychosocial intervention like motivational enhancement therapy shows an effective role and can be helpful in enhancing self-efficacy of alcohol dependents.

Summary point

• A simple and cost-effective method of self-efficacy training can help in decreasing the public health problem of alcohol dependence
• The self-efficacy treatment can be imparted in a group setting
• The primary level clinician can be effectively trained in this method of management at community level.

Financial support and sponsorship

University Grant commission (UGC) New Delhi.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

• A psychotherapeutic intervention like motivational enhancement therapy (MET) along with medicinal treatment gives positive outcomes in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
• Self-efficacy enhances with motivational enhancement therapy intervention which assists individuals in coming out of trap of alcohol dependence.
• In India, there is a resource crunch in which short interventions which have better management potential are the need of the day. Training the primary level practitioners in MET and self-efficacy can prove to be a smart and cost-effective primary level management strategy, wherein the patients can be targeted and managed at the primary and community level in groups.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank all persons who participated in the present study and their spouse.

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July 31, 2024

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Scientists solve mystery of DNA damage detection and repair caused by sunlight, alcohol, and pollution

by Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences

A collaboration between researchers at the Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) in London and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, has solved a decades-old mystery which could pave the way to better cancer treatments in the future.

The work, which uncovered the basic mechanism of how one of our most vital DNA repair systems recognizes DNA damages and initiates their repair, has eluded researchers for many years. Using cutting edge imaging techniques to visualize how these DNA repair proteins move on a single molecule of DNA, and electron microscopy to capture how they "lock-on" to specific DNA structures, this research opens the way to more effective cancer treatments.

The collaboration between the laboratories of Professor David Rueda (LMS) and Dr. Lori Passmore (LMB) has been a brilliant example of how #teamscience can bear fruitful results and underscores the importance of these two institutes in driving forward research that unlocks the fundamental mechanisms of biology which will underpin the future translation of that work into improvements in human health.

The researchers were working on a DNA repair pathway, known as the Fanconi Anemia [FA] pathway, which was identified more than 20 years ago.

DNA is constantly damaged throughout our lives by environmental factors including UV light from the sun, alcohol use, smoking, pollution and exposure to chemicals. One way in which DNA becomes damaged is when it is "cross-linked," which stops it being able to replicate and express genes normally.

In order to replicate itself and to read and express genes, the two strands of the DNA double helix first has to unzip into single strands. When DNA is cross-linked, the "nucleotides" (the "steps" in the double-helix ladder of DNA) of the two strands become stuck together, preventing this unzipping.

The accumulation of DNA damages including cross-linking can lead to cancer. The FA pathway is active throughout our lives and identifies these damages and repairs them on an ongoing basis.

Individuals who have mutations that make this pathway less effective are far more susceptible to cancers. Although the proteins involved in the FA pathway were discovered some time ago, a mystery remained over how they identified the cross-linked DNA and started the process of DNA repair.

The team from the MRC LMS sister institution, the LMB in Cambridge, led by Lori Passmore, had previously identified that the FANCD2-FANCI (D2-I) protein complex, which acts in one of the first steps of the FA pathway, clamps onto DNA, thereby initiating DNA repair at crosslinks.

However, key questions remained: how does D2-I recognize crosslinked DNA, and why is the D2-I complex also implicated in other types of DNA damage?

The research, published in Nature , used a combination of cutting-edge scientific techniques to show that the D2-I complex slides along the double-stranded DNA, monitoring its integrity, and has also elegantly visualized how it recognizes where to stop, allowing the proteins to move and lock together at that point to initiate DNA repair.

Artur Kaczmarczyk and Korak Ray in David Rueda's Single Molecule Imaging group, working with Pablo Alcón in Lori Passmore's group, used a state-of-the-art microscopy technique known as "correlated optical tweezers and fluorescence imaging" to explore how the D2-I complex slides along a double-stranded DNA molecule.

Using optical tweezers, they could catch a single DNA molecule between two beads, which allowed them to precisely manipulate the DNA and incubate it with chosen proteins.

Using fluorescently labeled D2-I and single-molecule imaging, they observed how individual D2-I complexes bind to and slide along DNA, scanning the double helix. They discovered that rather than recognizing the crosslink between the two strands of DNA directly, the FA clamp instead stops sliding when it reaches a single-stranded DNA gap, a region where one of the two strands of DNA is missing.

Using cryo-electron microscopy, a powerful technique which can visualize proteins at a molecular level, the researchers next determined the structures of the D2-I complex both in its sliding position and stalled at the junction between single-stranded and double-stranded DNA.

This revealed that the contacts D2-I makes with this single-stranded–double-stranded DNA junction is distinct from the contacts it makes with double-stranded DNA alone.

This allowed them to identify a specific portion of the FANCD2 protein, called the "KR helix" that they showed in their single-molecule imaging experiments is critical for recognizing and stalling at the single-stranded DNA gaps.

Working with Guillaume Guilbaud and Julian Sale in the LMB's PNAC Division, and Themos Liolios and Puck Knipscheer at the Hubrecht Institute, Netherlands, they further showed that the D2-I complex's ability to stall at these junctions using the KR helix is critical for DNA repair by the FA pathway.

When DNA normally replicates in our cells, it unzips the two DNA strands and copies each single strand. This creates a ' replication fork ' where the original DNA strands are unwound and new double-stranded DNA is formed on each strand. However, when this fork reaches a DNA crosslink, the strands cannot be unzipped, stalling the usual DNA replication process.

This stalled replication fork thus contains exposed single-stranded gaps where the DNA has been unwound but not replicated. This research has shown that it is these junctions between single- and double-stranded DNA at the stalled replication fork that the D2-I protein complex latches tightly onto.

Not only does this allow D2-I complex to bring other FA pathway proteins to the DNA crosslink to initiate repair, but it also anchors the remaining double-stranded DNA, protecting the stalled "replication fork" from enzymes in the cell that would chew up the exposed end of the DNA strand and further damage the DNA.

This work has shown that it is DNA structures within the replication fork that stalls as a result of cross-linked DNA, rather than the cross-linked DNA itself, that triggers the D2-I complex to stop sliding and clamp on to DNA to initiate repair. These stalled replication forks appear in many types of DNA damage, explaining the broad role of the D2-I complex in other forms of DNA repair as well as via the FA pathway.

Understanding the process of DNA repair, and, importantly, why it fails, holds huge importance as DNA damage is a key factor in many diseases. Critically, many cancer drugs, for example Cisplatin, work by inducing such serious cellular damage to cancer cells that they stop dividing and die.

In such cases, DNA repair pathways—such a vital physiological process in normal life—can be hijacked by cancer cells who use them to resist the effects of chemotherapy drugs. Understanding the mechanistic basis of the first step in the DNA repair pathway may lead to ways of sensitizing patients so that cancer drugs can be more effective in future.

Journal information: Nature

Provided by Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences

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19 Facts About Tim Walz, Harris’s Pick for Vice President

Mr. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach, served in the Army National Guard and chooses Diet Mountain Dew over alcohol.

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By Simon J. Levien and Maggie Astor

• Published Aug. 6, 2024 Updated Aug. 9, 2024

Until recently, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota was a virtual unknown outside of the Midwest, even among Democrats. But his stock rose fast in the days after President Biden withdrew from the race, clearing a path for Ms. Harris to replace him and pick Mr. Walz as her No. 2.

Here’s a closer look at the Democrats’ new choice for vice president.

1. He is a (very recent) social media darling . Mr. Walz has enjoyed a groundswell of support online from users commenting on his Midwestern “dad vibes” and appealing ordinariness.

2. He started the whole “weird” thing. It was Mr. Walz who labeled former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, “weird” on cable television just a couple of weeks ago. The description soon became a Democratic talking point.

3. He named a highway after Prince and signed the bill in purple ink. “I think we can lay to rest that this is the coolest bill signing we’ll ever do,” he said as he put his name on legislation declaring a stretch of Highway 5 the “Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway” after the musician who had lived in Minnesota.

4. He reminds you of your high school history teacher for a reason. Mr. Walz taught high school social studies and geography — first in Alliance, Neb., and then in Mankato, Minn. — before entering politics.

5. He taught in China in 1989 and speaks some Mandarin. He went to China for a year after graduating from college and taught English there through a program affiliated with Harvard University.

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